“Then I wish you would call on Lady Delville. You see Delville is of my party: we sit together. You should be very civil to her, and I did not think you were so the other night.”
“You wish Lady Delville to support your political interest; and, if I mistake not, you think her at present lukewarm?”
“Precisely.”
“Then, my dear lord, will you place confidence in my discretion? I promise you, if you will leave me undisturbed in my own plans, that Lady Delville shall be the most devoted of your party before the season is half over: but then, the means will not be those you advise.”
“Why, I advised none.”
“Yes—civility; a very poor policy.”
“D—n it, Constance! why, you would not frown a great person like Lady Delville into affection for us?”
“Leave it to me.”
“Nonsense!”
“My dear lord, only try. Three months is all I ask. You will leave the management of politics to me ever afterwards! I was born a schemer. Am I not John Vernon’s daughter?”